December 13, 2019
A Hengfu sugarcane plantation in Preah Vihear province in July 2019 (VOD)

Plantations Skirted Laws to Amass Land, Driving Locals Into Debt

Sugar plantations in Preah Vihear have skirted land laws to amass territory, driving indigenous people into debt. Now, the EU is examining the land concessions, among other rights concerns, as it finalizes a decision on whether Cambodia will keep duty-free trade preferences.

Swedish Ambassador Bjorn Haggmark (second left) looks on as Nop Vy, CamboJA’s director (left), shakes hands with EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno at the CamboJA launch event on December 13, 2019 in Phnom Penh. (CamboJA)

New Journalists’ Group Vows to Defend Reporters, Free Press

A new journalists’ association, the Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA), vowed to promote press freedom and independent newsgathering, and defend and help professionalize local reporters during a launch event on Friday.